First of all, thanks for reading one of my books! It means a lot. It also means a lot that you have chosen to write a report on something I’ve written or to conduct an author study about me. I want you to get a good grade, so I’ve prepared this page to help you out!
About Me
I was born and raised in Alabama, growing up in a small town named Gardendale, roaming the woods and exploring the creek behind my house with other boys from our neighborhood. I also played sports year-round and discovered an interest in hunting during middle school.
When I finished high school, I first wanted to be an airline pilot and actually learned to fly while a student at Auburn University. But, after graduating from Auburn, I worked as a computer programmer and web developer for fourteen years before attending seminary at Beeson Divinity School and then becoming a pastor. I am currently pastoring a small church in Huntsville, Alabama, where I live with my wife, daughter, son, and dog named Hank. And yes, I still fly small airplanes from time to time.
As a child, I always enjoyed reading, but the book Where the Red Fern Grows kicked that into high gear for me. It is a classic that every young person should read—especially boys who would rather be outside chasing animals through the woods than inside reading. But I also always had an interest in writing. I remember proclaiming that I wanted to be an author at one or two career days during elementary school. Of course, I didn’t know any authors so it wasn’t anything I took seriously. But after years spent reading—for pleasure, for school, and as a pastor—and after years of writing sermons, I had, without really knowing it, developed the tools I needed to write a book. And when my son couldn’t find many books he enjoyed to read, I decided I would try to write one he would enjoy. That’s how my first book Birthday Buck was born. The other books in the series came to be because of readers like you!
Thank you for reading and enjoying one of my books enough to write a report about it. Who knows? You may end up being an author, too!
Fast Facts:
Hometown: Gardendale, AL
Current Home: Huntsville, AL
Favorite Book: The Bible
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 6:23, because it is the story of the Bible in one verse—it takes you from Genesis to Revelation.
The book that got me interested in reading as a kid: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Favorite Food: Venison backstrap is fantastic, but a ribeye steak is hard to beat!
Interesting Fact About Me: I have a pilot’s license and fly small airplanes.
Sports played as a kid: Football, baseball, basketball, and track.
Favorite Teacher: Coach Kimbrough, Middle School U.S. History